Part 12 (1/2)
”Actually, Gia agreed to let me run a few tests. Everything came back negative.”
Why keep that a secret? She was proving to be an accomplished liar. ”She's not doping him?”
The boyish grin transformed into his serious doctor scowl. ”It's not that simple. I have to test for specific drugs. I tested for five drugs; he tested negative for those five.”
”Did you suggest which drugs to test for?”
He nodded. ”I did. After I'd talked to the filmmaker-”
”I wanted to talk to you about her,” I said.
Daniel looked confused by my sudden interjection. I was about to ask him about Stephanie, when Mr. TV strolled inside, hijacking my tte--tte.
”Well, h.e.l.lo there. We meet again.” He flashed a roguish smile at me.
”I thought I left you at the coffee shop. I'd think a serious journalist wouldn't choose to hang out at a wiener race.”
”Ah, but as you pointed out yesterday, not everything is what it seems.”
There was no way to tell if he was talking about himself, me, or the race. Either way, I didn't want to know. I'm sure there were those who found his twinkling eyes and witty conversation adorable, but I wasn't one of them.
”I find that we're both here to question the good doctor intriguing.” He held out his hand in Daniel's direction. ”Callum MacAvoy, Channel 5 News.”
”Noon reporter,” I clarified, with a cheeky smile.
They clasped hands. ”Daniel Darling.” Daniel's curious gaze darted between the reporter and me.
”Daniel and I are friends. I wasn't questioning him,” I said, clearing up Mr. TV's a.s.sumption.
”My apologies. It only sounded like an interrogation.”
Daniel's brown eyes narrowed. ”How can I help you, Mr. MacAvoy?”
”I was hoping you could shed light on the doping allegation. I've heard from a couple of sources who are concerned about Zippy taking a supplement. Can you confirm if that's true?”
I was surprised to hear he was investigating the doping angle. Had he overheard my conversation with Daniel?
”To my knowledge, the dog is clean.”
Mr. TV pulled out a pen and notebook from inside his blazer pocket. ”Then you have tested the dog?”
”I thought murder was your story?” I asked.
”A good reporter follows every thread.”
A good reporter follows every thread, I mimicked silently. I didn't want to listen to him pontificate on how to be a great reporter. Could he possibly be anymore condescending?
”Doctor, did you test Zippy at the urging of the racing organization?”
Daniel shoved his hands in his pockets. ”I'm not at liberty to answer your questions. Perhaps you should talk to Hagan Stone. Mel, is there anything else you needed?”
I wanted to ask him about Stephanie. I bit my lip as I quickly searched for a way to get rid of Mr. TV.
MacAvoy tapped his notebook with his pen. ”I can tell you're itching to ask him something, Melinda. Don't let my presence stop you.”
”Don't flatter yourself.” I faced Daniel wide-eyed, hoping he'd get the message I was sending. ”About your early morning visitor,” I prompted.
Daniel looked like a confused charade player who had no idea how to interpret his partner's clues.
”She's talking about the girl with the dachshund tattoo,” MacAvoy b.u.t.ted in.
I jerked my head around and slung an irritated glare at him. ”You are annoying.”
”Who?” Daniel asked.
”The filmmaker,” I explained. ”Did she say where she'd be today?”
”Not specifically.”
I smiled insincerely at MacAvoy. ”Excuse us.” There was no need to play coy any longer.
I grabbed Daniel's arm and dragged him away from MacAvoy. As quietly as I could, I recounted Betty's story about how Stephanie, aka the girl with the dachshund tattoo, had taken Betty's gun.
”I wish I'd known about this sooner. I could have helped,” he said softly. ”I wonder why Betty didn't mentioned this when I saw her yesterday,” he mused.
”You saw Betty yesterday too?” My voice squeaked. I looked over my shoulder at MacAvoy. He waved. Ugh.
”Yes,” Daniel said.
I knew him well enough to know when he was keeping something confidential. ”When exactly? Give me a time.”
He walked toward the door. ”I'm not sure. I wasn't watching the clock.”
I grabbed his arm, forgetting all about MacAvoy. ”If you can give her alibi, please do.”
He shook his head. ”I can't. I saw her after Richard's shooting.”
”Did she come here or did you see her around the park?”
With a heavy sigh, he crossed his arms and asked, ”What's with all the questions, Mel?”
”Besides the fact that she's a murder suspect, and Mr. TV over there stopped short of reporting her as a person of interest on the news last night?”
He whistled softly. ”There's more?”
”Yes. Betty's disappearing without a word to anyone, dodging her daughter, and missing work. I'm concerned.”